Level and inclinometer



May 13, 1952 B. MILLER LEVEL AND INCLINOMETER 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed Jan. l0, 1950 i i5.: ...Illu

MEA/Tok rk Bmw/s1' man ay nr o A/Ey/ May 13, 1,952 B, MILLER 2,596,422

LEVEL .AND INCLINOMETER Filed Jan. 10, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 /WEA/Toe 80k/lf' M/l LER Arran/Vey Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEVEL AND INCLINOMETER` Barnet Miller, Hartford, Conn.

Application January 10, 1950, Serial No. 137,771

Claims. l

This invention relates to an inclinometer, and more particularly to such a device in which a gravity-operated mechanism is caused to operate a plurality of indicators associated with scales to indicate such information as the level degrees of inclination or the rise of inches per foot o1' such inclination.

In devices of this kind, the distance at which the gravity member may be supported from a pivot point is necessarily limited, as is the weight of such member. Therefore, the total turning force which the gravity member can exert on the driving member of the indicating mechanism is correspondingly necessarily limited. As a result, .difficulties have heretofore been encountered in devising such a device in which stalling of the mechanism would be avoided under all operating conditions without undue enlargement and complication of the structure. The present invention provides such an arrangement and in particular provides for a simple support for one member of the gear train comprising the drive for the indicating mechanism whereby the operator may, by a simple adjustment, cause the gear train to assume a position of proper alignment in which binding or stalling effects are reduced to a minimum.

rI'his invention also provides for a novel brake mechanism to set the indicating mechanism upon its reaching a position of equilibrium for any particular measurement. This brake mechanism is one in which the setting and releasing member is set in such position relative to the operators hand so as to be operable with a maximum of ease. Also, by causing the brake shoe to engage the peripheral teeth in the largest gear of the indicator drive mechanism, all tendency for the mechanism to shift after having been set by the brake is eliminated.

By a novelrelationship of the parts, the entire assembly is made extremely compact so as to be incorporated in a structure which is no larger or heavier than a standard carpenters level.

In addition, the mechanism is readily assembled and disassembled due to its novel structure whereby the repair and adjustment thereof are greatly facilitated.

In the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment of this invention:

Fig. l is a perspective View of an inclinometer incorporating the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section, in enlarged scale. taken :along line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 with the cover window, indicator and indicator scale removed;

Fig. 4 is a view of one of the indicator scales showing the degrees of inclination;

Fig. 5 is a view of the other indicator scale showing the rise of inches per foot for the inclination being measured; and

Fig. 6 'is an enlarged perspective view of the brake mechanism.

The inclinometer illustrated comprises a supporting body having plane upper and lower faces I and 2 formed by metal strips. These strips are held in spaced, parallel relation by a pair of metal blocks 3 and 4 which also have plane, parallel end faces. If desired, these blocks may be hollow. The blocks 3 and 4 are secured to the strips I and 2 in any suitable manner. The inner ends of blocks 3 and 4 are spaced apart to provide a space 5 in which my novel indicator assembly is located.

Secured to the inner faces of the strips I and 2 within the space 5 are four support blocks I for supporting the indicator assembly. The four corners of the assembly base plate 'I are fastened to the lower side of the blocks B as viewed in Fig. 2 by fastening means such as screws (not shown). The center of the base plate I is provided with an opening 8 surrounded by an annular shoulder 9 within which is supported a ball bearing assembly I 0. The ball bearing assembly I0, in turn,q carries a shaft Il freely rotatable therein. To the shaft I I is secured a large gear I2. The outer end of the shaft passes through, and is freely rotatable in, a ball bearing assembly I3 which is held in place by an annular shoulder III formed around a central opening in a bracket I5.x This bracket, as shown in Fig, 3, is provided with a pair of depending legs I6 having feet I'i through which pass screws I8 which fasten the bracket I5 to the base plate l.

Intermediate the gear I2 and the ball bearing assembly I3'is secured an elongated rod |B. This rod carries a cross bar 20 to which is clamped a weight 2| by means of a pair of spring clamps 22. In order to steady the Weight 2|, the rod I9 pro-A jects into a hole therein (not shown). This is a convenient wayof detachably supporting the weight 2| although it may be permanently se; cured in place by any suitable fastening arrangement on the rod I9.

The large gear I2 meshes with a smaller gear 23 secured to a shaft 24 which extends through and is freely rotatable in a ball bearing assembly 25. This ball bearing assembly is supported in a ring 26 having a retaining lip 21 at its lower edge with l"which they engage.

3 to retain the ball Vbearing assembly 25. The ring 26 is formed at the outer end of a round bar 28 which is clamped to the base plate 1 as will Vbe described below. The ball bearing assembly Vis Vclamped in place by a clamping bar 2S fastened in position on the bar 28 by a screw 35. Fastened to the base plate 1, as by soldering, is a block 3| having a semicircular recess therein to receivethe barv 28.k A clamping bar 32, having a complementary semicircular depression, is i clampedtothe block 3| by screws 33 thus clamping the bar 28 in place. By loosening the screws 33, the bar 28 may be slid along its longitudinal axis and also may be rotated about thatuaxis while bearing in the circular space provided by l "these gear. teeth without binding. Thus the bar carrying thegear 25 isreadily adjustable to '.providetheiproperorientation and alignment of the' gears I2 and 25 Y to' producev a minimum of binding and a maximumof freedom of motion of themechanism The b'ase plate 'i out away at 34 to allow room for the ring 25.

To the "top side ofithe blocks 5 are fastened 'two supportinggbars 35 and 35 which are secure'd'inplace by screws 31 and 38. "35fhasr secured,at.rlight 'angles thereto, an end plate '39.,prvided with upper and lower retain- The bar ing lips '40 ar`1d4l.V Likewise, the'bar 35 has isecured,` at right angles thereto, an end plate 42 'having 'upper and .lower retaining lips 43 and 44. An upper, scale 45 is secured to the supporting bars 35 and35 by screwsv 45 and 4l. The

scale 45 is formed from a metal sheet d8 folded .gri

Y over at its 'endsto provide lips 49 and 55 which ;retain"a ytransparent'plastic sheet 5l.

Between the .sheets'"'48fa'nd 5I is retained a sheet 52 of a suitable material, such as paper, upon which ispri'nted aiscale calibrated in degrees and minlutes asshwn in Fig. '4. The shaft Il projects through a'central hole inthe scale 45 and carries a` double-ended' pointer 53..V This pointer has a central plate 541from which depends a hollow vhub 55.'vvhich"frictionally engagesv the outer end of the'. shaft il...V Y 1A second scale. 56,v similarv in construction to scale 45, issecured-'to the face of the rbase plate 'I by screws] tapped into said base plate. This scale'also is formedzfr'om a metal sheet 58 having .end lips 59Iretaining a transparent plastic sheet 150.` Here,'1the sheet'l, retained between the sheetsl58and`60, isprintedwith a scale calibrated lininches'rise 'per foot' as'shown in Fig. 5. The shaft 24 projects through a`central hole in.r

scale 56v and `ca'rries'a doubleeended pointer 62. This pointer has'a central `plate 83 provided with `a hollow 'liub `54 frictionally engaging the outer end of VShaft 24.

The two vsides "of the vindicator mechanism are.

plates -65 and"66. Thisisl doneV by fastening aV pair ofb'ars lacross thev inside end surfaces of the lcover plates`65" and "66. 'Angle'bars `'I I each have" 'one "wing inserted' "between" av bar 10" and` receive the cam-'follower 89=in its retracted-:posivsueh surface.

pose in the" oth'enpositionbf" the Fbrak'e.

Y A 4 the inner surface of the corresponding plate or 6B to thereby clamp the windows 69 in place. The other wing of each angle bar 'H serves to properly space the scales 45 and 56 below the windows.

When the level is placed with one of the strips I or 2 along a surface whose inclination is to be measured, it is usually desired to clamp the mechanism in place sothat the scales 45 and 55=may be 'read when` the level is moved from For this purpose,'the mechanism is provided with a brake mechanism as shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 6. Fastened to the base plate 'l by suitable means, such as soldering, is an upstanding plate l2. Spaced from the plate 'i2 and likewise fastened to the base plate 'l is another plate 13. These plates l2 and i3 form guide members between which is tted a brake bracket FG consisting of a U-shaped frame 15 and ,a bar T5. 'Ihe bracket 14 is adjustable in a direction toward `and away from thejlarge gear l2V between the guide plates '2 and 'i3 and may be secured in its'adjusted position by a screw H extending through'an elongated slot i8 in thebar 16 into a tapped-hole in the base plate The two side arms ofthe U-shaped frames 'l5 are provided, witlrjslots through which passes a brake'arm 79 Ahaving a brake shoe which may engage the outeredges of the gear teeth on the large gear llto clamp the indicator mechanism in place. LThe arrn 'i9 is cut away to provide a shoulder 8| to engage a spring 62, compressed between the shoulder 8l and one arm of the U-shaped frame'l5, to urge the brake shoe into engagement with Vthe gear I2. To guide the 'bracket 'I4 during its adjustment, the plate 12 isprovided withfa-guide bar 83 also received in one of the slots'through which the arm 'i9 passes. The platef42 isprovided-withV an opening 84 through whigh'a reduced portion of the arm 19 projects.` Thisend of the arm 19 is guided lin its motion a pair of guide platesv 85secured to a bracketfalso soldered to the outside of platef42. jThe bracket 85 is provided Vwith a p air of end 4plates"Rifrecessed to receive a camarm 88. 'Ilhe outer end of thearrnV 19 is provided with a cam follower 89 adapted to follow a cam surface 90 cut"ito fof the sides ofthe levelwhere"thefiingers of j: the operator: are `*mostusually `located in olding the level, ankdfthusfthe-brakei canhbe with a maximumn of ease. *Beyond of 7thev cam surface 90A isljlcated'- a recess y3f. Y to tion whereby therej'isno tendency for 'theb ke to be set unless positively operated-by th f of the person using the level. The; llwl end of the cam surface "90' accomplishesfthe samefpur- In order to hold"the camarm`88`7in plf'i'f'iefaC/er plate 93 is snapped finto position between'albar 94 fastened to the plate 42 adaleva spififig The level may be provided on the surfaces of the blocks 3 and 4 with suitable conversion tables and other information useful in connection with the full utilization of the device.

What is claimed is:

1. An inclinometer comprising a body member having a plane surface adapted to serve as a measuring surface, a shaft journalled on said body, a weight eccentrically mounted on said shaft, a drive gear mounted on said shaft, a smaller gear engaging said drive gear, said smaller gear mounted on another shaft journalled in a carrying member mounted at the end of an elongated circular bar extending at right angles to the axes of rotation of said gears, said bar being slidably and rotatably adjustable in a clamp mounted on said body member, an indicating pointer carried by each of said shafts, and a scale on said body adjacent each of said pointers.

2. An inclinometer comprising a body member having a plane surface adapted to serve as a measuring surface, a shaft journalled on said body, a Weight eccentrically mounted on said shaft, a drive gear mounted on said shaft, a smaller gear engaging said drive gear, said smaller gear mounted on another shaft also journalled on said body, a brake member having a brake shoe mounted adjacent said drive gear, said brake shoe having a width substantially greater than the distance between adjacent teeth of said drive gear, and means for moving said brake shoe into engagement with the outer ends of the teeth of said drive gear.

3. An inclinometer comprising a body member having a plane surface adapted to serve as a measuring surface, a shaft journalled on said body, a Weight eccentrically mounted on said shaft, a drive gear mounted on said shaft, a smaller gear engaging said drive gear, said smaller gear mounted on another shaft also journalled on said body, a brake member having a brake shoe mounted adjacent said drive gear, said brake shoe having a width substantially greater than the distance between adjacent teeth of said drive gear, spring means for moving said brake shoe into engagement with the outer ends of the teeth of said drive gear, and a cam bar for engaging said brake member for retracting said brake shoe from engagement with said drive gear against the biasing action of said spring means.

4. An inclinometer comprising a body member having the shape of an elongated bar, an opening extending through the center of said body member, a supporting plate mounted in said opening, a shaft journalled in said plate, a weight eccentrically mounted on said shaft, a drive gear mounted on said shaft, a smaller gear engaging said drive gear, said smaller gear mounted on another shaft journalled in a carrying member mounted at the end of an elongated circular bar extending at right angles to the axes of rotation of said gears, said bar being slidably and rotatably adjustable in a clamp mounted on said plate, an indicating pointer carried by each of said shafts, and a scale on said body adjacent each of said pointers.

5. An inclinometer comprising a body member having the shape of an elongated bar, an opening in said body member, a supporting plate mounted in said opening, a shaft journalled in said plate, a weight eccentrically mounted on said shaft, a drive gear mounted on said shaft, a smaller gear engaging said drive gear, said smaller gear mounted on another shaft journalled in a carrying member mounted at the end of an elongated circular bar extending at right angles to the axes of rotation of said gears, said bar being slidably and rotatably adjustable in a clamp mounted on said plate, an indicating pointer carried by each of said shafts, a scale on said body adjacent each of said pointers, a pair of window frames mounted over said scales, each of said window frames being releasably clipped to end plates carried by said supporting plate, and transparent Windows mounted in said frames by means of angle bars retained at the ends of said windows by transverse bars secured to the lower sides of said window frames.

BARNET MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 221,380 Winter Nov.. 4, 1879 397,010 Lewis Jan. 29, 1889 532,515 Woodworth Jan. l5, 1895 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 117,812 Great Britain 1919 

